We Can Do This if We Try

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Aloha,
On December 1, 2016 is the fundraising gala for the U.S. Council on Disabilities (USICD) at the Chamber of Congress in Washington, D.C. It is a bipartisan celebration of the role USICD plays in promoting disability rights. I am president of USICD. I am so proud of USICD. We acknowledge and celebrate the bipartisan role associated with supporting USICD and like-minded organizations in providing technical assistance to advocacy groups and governments so they create policies that promote universally designed communities around the world.
Here's the link to the details:
http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07ed7jctgla822de3b&llr=xmiyfhdab
Please buy a ticket and come join us. I'll be there, all the way from Hawaii. Yes, I am crazy to leave paradise in December!
Common Grounder

Friday, November 11, 2016

Historically appointing people to fill political jobs in disability-related positions, regardless of the party who wins a presidential election, takes a long time to fill -- 12 to 18 months on average. On the one hand, that suggests less than optimal status in the food chain. On the other hand, it gives us some time to encourage smart, thoughtful, knowledgeable, and experienced people to apply.

What would President-Elect Trump do related to disability policy? On the one hand, that's a hard question to answer given the scarcity of substantive detail even remotely connected to disability policy or possible initiatives. He has made strong, affirmative statements about assisting vets, so maybe reviewing them will give us some ideas. He has said he would block grant Medicaid, giving states control of it, so perhaps we should invest in strengthening disability advocacy coalitions in individual states. He is all about growing jobs here in America, so whatever mechanisms that emerge to make that happen, people who represent people with disabilities need to be at the table. Perhaps someone needs to tell him that undoing some executive orders related to employment of persons with disabilities would be counter productive. His positions on education matters are not part of a comprehensive plan, but the ones we know about would definitely give states more discretion and control and give parents more choice. Again, strong voices in individual states advocating for the right processes and outcomes will be most necessary.

The things I have identified are not inherently horrific. It's a matter of how they are done. It's a matter of whom President-Elect Trump HIRES to steer the disability ship. I encourage him to hire people who believe, have experience with, and would practice these principles when placed in positions of power:

1. Take a serious look at what is before you attempt to alter it.
2. If you decide ultimately to alter it, get broad input from end-user stakeholders.
3. Don't make things more complicated by always believing 50 ways of doing something is better than one way of doing something.
4. Protect with strong conviction the disability rights laws that are on the books.

If you believe and practice these principles, you are someone President-Elect Trump could use in his administration. You could do a lot of good. The worse that could happen is that he would fire you or you would quit. But, before that you could shape things in ways that would pay off for people with disabilities. Doing so, even only for a while, would be worth it.

Monday, November 7, 2016

The key word in this election is change. How you view it. How you define it. How you think it will happen. What will result because of it.

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump agree on one thing -- they each pronounce that they will bring about the change that everyone needs and wants. Of course, that is debatable. Some things are critical -- They each need a Congress with which they can work. They each need a nine-person bench on the Supreme Court. They each need smart people around them who can get things done. They each need to avoid non-productive distractions.

I own property in Virginia so I voted by absentee ballot. What did I weigh in reaching my decision?

What is most important -- experience in or out of government?
What is most helpful -- experience negotiating based on facts and a sense of desirable outcomes or negotiating using raw power and all that comes with it?
What is most essential -- knowing how to prepare for the anticipated and the unanticipated or having people around you, you think have the answers because you picked them and you are good at that?
What should be done with health care -- correct a flawed system or start over?
What should be done about the economy -- let it flourish naturally or tick off every company that has business overseas?
What should be done about education -- listen and build consensus before acting or close the Department of Education?
What should be done about security -- recognize where we are and document it for the American people or start shutting out people, shrink our ally pool, and eliminate ISIS in all the countries it resides, using brute force.

I want to wake up the day after the inauguration with a president that supports the Constitution, cares about people and their circumstances, cuts deals within the law, has learned from past mistakes, knows how to react to criticism as a mature adult, and has canceled her Twitter account.

Saturday, November 5, 2016

Getting rid of gridlock in the Senate, maybe? We have the power to change things, friends. Let me offer an example -- Many of us worked for ratification of the disability rights treaty, the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) by the Senate. In December 2012, the last time the treaty was brought up for a vote, we lost by 6 votes. We needed 67, not 51, to secure ratification of the treaty.

In the new Congress, that will take over in January 2017, we will once again try to get the treaty ratified by the Senate. The first step will be the treaty being voted on by of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In every day language, ratification means something is a good idea, so let's do it. Voting for ratification means a senator likes the idea. Voting against ratification means a senator doesn't like it. The House of Representatives has no role in treaty ratification.

All Democrat senators voted for ratification of the CRPD in 2012.

Well, as it happens, several Republicans up for re-election are on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In 2012 some of these senators voted for the disability treaty -- McCain (AZ) and Kirk (IL). Some did not -- Rubio (FL), Paul (KY), and Johnson (WI). So we need to see that ANYONE who supported ratification gets our vote if we live in that state.

Twenty-four incumbent Republicans are up for re-election. Here are the Republican senators, up for re-election, who voted for the disability treaty in 2012 -- Ayotte (NH), Kirk (IL), McCain (AZ), and Murkowski (AK). Republican Senator Collins (ME), not up for re-election this year, voted for the treaty. Three other Republican senators, no longer in the Senate, also voted for the treaty -- Brown (MA), Snow (ME), and Lugar (IN). Bottom line of this historical snapshot is the treaty failed to be ratified by a vote of 61 to 38. A majority voted for it, but not enough; 67 was the magic number.

So, why rehash all of this? If candidates support policies that affirm the rights of persons with disabilities, then chances are that they care about people generally and will work across party lines to make things better for all Americans. If we all were to vote on Tuesday for candidates who support the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, it is highly likely the Senate in 2017 would be made up of people who oppose gridlock and want to address and resolve challenges faced by the American people. If you vote for someone who supports the disability rights treaty, you are not a single issue voter, you are a smart voter who will help vanquish gridlock in the Senate.

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Every presidential election is a big deal. But this one, my friends, is a zinger! The contrasts between the two major candidates are stark. The mud that's being thrown makes many wonder, what an embarrassment, what a choice. But the fact of the matter is one of them -- Hillary or Donald -- is going to win. So don't you dare not vote just because you are disgusted or upset. This is not the year to sit one out.

One option that is still out there is to vote by absentee ballot. I counted -- most states are still accepting requests for absentee ballots. Most states allow you to make a request on line. Most states' criteria for voting absentee are easy to understand and reasonable. This information (https://www.usvotefoundation.org/vote/state-elections/state-election-dates-deadlines.htm) should be especially useful for people, including some with disabilities, who are not sure if or how they will get to the polls on Election Day, November 8, 2016.

Please check out your state. Please consider the absentee ballot option if you are unsure of a ride on Election Day. This is one year when EVERY VOTE WILL COUNT big time. Anyone, who is eligible to vote and doesn't, is saying they don't care about their future or the future of the rest of us. We need the biggest turnout ever so everyone knows where the USA stands. We need clarity. We need direction. Then, we can work on finding common ground and a prosperous future for all.

Friday, October 21, 2016

I moved to Waikiki in August of this year. I am now the Director of the Center on Disability Studies at the University of Hawaii, Manoa. It is a very rewarding job. I get to interact with people who do all sorts of things to help the people of Hawaii lead fuller lives and achieve their potential in paradise -- individuals with disabilities of all ages, Native Hawaiian children, parents, and leaders in state agencies.

Another amazing thing that has happened to me is that I met an Uber driver, who has become my friend. He can collapse and open my electric scooter and put it in and out of his trunk with lightening speed. He did it on my first ride. He is always available and always on time. We talk about everything, including how to solve the world's problems. He has made transportation a non-problem (Is there such a word?) for me.

Transportation is a big deal, especially when you need it and don't have it. Election Day is November 8th. It is a holiday. Everyone who reads this post and has a car consider giving someone with a disability, perhaps more than one person, a ride to the polls. Also, consider helping them with the voting process if they need it. Workers at the polls have become very attuned to accessibility and reasonable accommodations in the last 15 years. Most polling places have procedures that allow one person to help another.

Pundits are speculating about voter turnout out. Let's help set a record. We can. We should. The United States of America needs it. And who knows, you might make or strengthen a friendship.

Saturday, May 28, 2016

As some of you know I am the president of the U.S. International Council on Disabilities (USICD). On Friday I sent an e-mail message to USICD members. Today through this blog post, I am sharing it with you in the hope that you will join Project Triple I. Project Triple I is asking congressional leaders who decide on appropriations for the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID) to include money for disability inclusion in the year 2017 budget which begins on October 1, 2016.

I am asking you to help in convincing 27 members of Congress (15
Senators and 12 Representatives) from 22 states to do something that is greatly
needed for citizens with disabilities around the world. These members of Congress
serve on either the Senate or House Appropriations Subcommittee on State,
Foreign Operations and Related Programs. We want these subcommittees
to:

1.Give the office of
the USAID disability coordinator funding for six new professional staff and $10
million to support initiatives to foster and create greater inclusion of
persons with disabilities in community development and for advancement of
disability rightsaround
the world.

The disability
coordinator position has been vacant since December 2014. Even then, the
coordinator was on loan from the World Bank and had no budget or staff. So our request is an attempt to repair a case of significant neglect.

2.Give the Office of
the International Disability Rights Advisor in the State Department funding for
six new professional staff and $10 million to support initiatives to foster and
create greater inclusion of persons with disabilities in their communities and
for their advancement of disability rights around the world.

Currently, the
Advisor and one professional staff are able to pursue this work only with
contributions from other units in the State Department and with staff from
these units lent to them temporarily. We seek a new approach:
adequate capacity (real money and staff) in these offices through appropriations in order for the U.S. to have a broader, smarter, sustained positive impact on the lives of people with disabilities, a greater ability to share our experience and expertise in disability rights.

The only
way our requests will gain traction is if those of you from the states in the
chart below contact your member(s) of Congress and ask them to support the idea as
their subcommittees develop appropriation bills.

USICD in May 2016
has written to seven key members on the Appropriations Committees asking for
funding for both offices. This was the first step. We contacted:

·Republican Rep. Harold Rogers, Chair of
the full House Appropriations Committee (KY)

·Rep. Nita Lowey, Ranking Democrat on the
full House Appropriations Committee (NY) and on the House subcommittee that
funds the State Department

·Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, Chair of
the Senate subcommittee that funds the State Department (SC)

·Sen. Patrick Leahy, Ranking Democrat on
the Senate subcommittee that funds the State Department (VT)

·Republican Rep. Kay Granger, Chair of the
House subcommittee that funds the State Department (TX)

The next
step is for each of these seven leaders to hear from constituents
directly, and for all members of the two subcommittees to hear from their constituents directly. With volume, the committees are more likely to seriously
consider our requests and to include them in the appropriations bills.
These key members need to hear from constituents now.

We have
developed talking points to help you approach these important members. Contact Andrea Shettle, ashettle@usicd.com,
if you would like a copy of either the Senate or House talking points or both sets of talking
points. Please let Andrea know the state in which you live. Or, if
you do not live in one of the targeted states, please consider friends or
relatives in targeted states who you could convince to help.

This is a
time sensitive matter. If you are willing to help, now is the time to do it!

Please remember: if you
do not live in one of the targeted states, you may have a friend or friends who
do. Please invite them to join the project and have them reach out to
Andrea, or let Andrea know to whom to send the talking points (ashettle@usicd.org).

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About Me

I am working with others to secure and disseminate disability rights and their full implementation worldwide. I am president of the U.S. International Council on Disabilities and I am a member of the Governmental Affairs Committee of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA). I was a member of the U.S. Delegation to a United Nations Committee that drafted the Convention (Treaty) on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities and was a keynote speaker on special education at an international conference in Beijing, June 2004. I'm the former Commissioner of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities. I've worked on major legislation including the Americans with Disabilities Act. I've written four books and assisted in the production of training videos on the ADA. My career includes stints in both the public and private sector. I worked for the House of Representatives and Senate and was involved in drafting all disability legislation from 1981-2000. I’ve written four books and assisted in the production of six training videos on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). I’ve also served as a consultant to Fortune 200 companies on ADA compliance. I am a problem solver and persuader. I believe the “American Dream” belongs to everyone, and I am commited, through varied venues and innovative strategies, to make it happen for individuals with disabilities.